Ear Community and Cochlear Help Reyna Hear Better on First Day of Preschool

The start of preschool is a milestone often anticipated with great excitement and joy. It is a time to make new friends, play and learn. For Reyna Guzman-Marroquin, the first day of preschool was extra special because she was able to wear her newly donated Cochlear™ Baha® Sound Processor.

Reyna was born with unilateral microtia and atresia. Shortly after Reyna was born, her mom Magdalena began noticing that Reyna wasn’t as vocal as her other siblings were at her age. Magdalena learned how speech services could help Reyna, along with obtaining a bone conduction system. Reyna tested the Baha Sound Processor with success. Unfortunately, Reyna’s family did not have the financial income to provide for family insurance.

Reyna’s resource coordinator for early intervention services, Annette Landes, M.A., CCC-SLP, of the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, decided to apply for the Baha System through the Ear Community on behalf of the family. Annette knew “with Reyna’s speech and language delay that through the use of a Baha System it would assist in maximizing her potential for adequate development.”

On June 18, Reyna was fitted with a Cochlear Baha Sound Processor on a soft band. Since then, both Magdalena and Annette have witnessed how Reyna is now more responsive with her Baha Sound Processor. Melissa Tumblin, Founder of Ear Community, states “Giving Reyna the chance to hear better with her new Baha Sound Processor may help her to thrive during her first year of preschool and hear better during her critical years of development.” Read Reyna’s full story in the Ear Community.

The first day of preschool is always a big step for someone wearing such little shoes. We are so happy that Reyna is now hearing better. We are excited for her to do great in preschool this fall!

Cochlear is proud to partner with the Ear Community to help support individuals with microtia and atresia and varying degrees of hearing loss. We feel honored to partner with organizations such as the Ear Community and donate the gift of hearing to those in need.

Melissa Tumblin dedicates herself to helping others find information, support and financial assistance for bone conduction hearing devices. Because her daughter, Ally, was born with microtia and atresia of her right ear, Melissa was able to learn more than she ever imagined about hearing loss, school programs and treatment options. Ear Community is her way of spreading that knowledge while fulfilling her passion of helping others.

About Christine Casson

Christine Casson is a Marketing Manager at Cochlear Americas where she is responsible for planning and executing integrated consumer outreach campaigns. Passionate about the topic of hearing loss and ways in which to treat it, Christine enjoys speaking to and learning from Cochlear hearing implant recipients every day. She loves hearing about their unique experiences and how this miraculous technology has helped change their lives. In her free time, Christine enjoys spending time with her four children, cooking with her chef husband, hiking and enjoying the beautiful Colorado mountains.

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Views expressed by Cochlear recipients and hearing health providers are those of the individual. Consult your hearing health provider to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear™ technology. Outcomes and results may vary.